WILD - how close is the increased heart beat stage?

[ModestMouse]

I posted some of this in the newbie forum but I think it belongs here. Last night after researching LD a bit I decided to do some RC's throughout the day and give it a go at night. Well my first dream came and I woke up after it (about 4 hours maybe less after going to bed), and I thought i might try some WILD. I had read just enough to know it involved conciously slipping into REM and retaining this mindfulness. I had done some Zazen (zen meditation) in the past so I knew a bit about how to keep my mind in a clear state through breathing, after about a an hour I felt sleep paralysis begin and I started hearing a few auditory cues - voices, etc. Well I started to feel like I was being pulled through the mattress. At this point I tried to imagine separating myself from my body and sitting up, it felt like i could almost do this. Previously before I knew about LD i had been able to fly using this method in a dream. Anyway I can't really explain how but I had the sensation that my environment was changing and I wa slipping into a dream. At this time my heart started to beat super fast -- from deep relaxation to feeling like I had just run a sprint. Now until this morning I didn't know this was common, it kind of surprised me and I wasn't sure how to deal with it. I know now to be calm. Well regardless it jolted me out and I fell asleep normally about an hour later and that was that. My question is how close is this increased heart beat stage to the actual dream? Am I close or is this really the largest hurdle to get over?

[Serkat]

It could have in fact been a halluscination... Were you scared or excited? Or were you mentally calm... If the heart beating came over you for no apparant reason then it could have been unreal. Never heard of it as a sign of sleep onset.

[ModestMouse]

This is a little embarrassing but I was kind of willing a sexual encounter and the heart beating did have that sort of quality to it. It was more like a passionate heart beat than an athletic one..damn now i'm kind of pissed, i suppose next time i will just stay calm through it and see where it leads me, then do an RC once it passes. Originally posted by Korittke It could have in fact been a halluscination... Were you scared or excited? Or were you mentally calm... If the heart beating came over you for no apparant reason then it could have been unreal. Never heard of it as a sign of sleep onset.

[masterdieff]

I got that earlier on, and I think it's just excitement. Just yesterday I did a WILD and was able to stay calm, however very close to entering the LD I noticed faintly an increased heart rate. I think you were really close. Do it a few more times, get used to it, and it should go away after a while. That's what worked for me.

[BillyBob]

Yeah, when entering WILDs all types a stuff can seem to happen that dont really, (increased hartbeat, feeling like your foot twitches wildly etc) I have had rapid heartbeat like that and I cant really say if it was really my heart beating or not. It didnt hurt me though, you just have to relax and soon you will enter a dream no problem (usually things like fast heartbeat dont happen twice in a row)

[ModestMouse]

Thanks I am at the very least encouraged that I was able to get so close on my first try. Originally posted by BillyBob_001 Yeah, when entering WILDs all types a stuff can seem to happen that dont really, (increased hartbeat, feeling like your foot twitches wildly etc) I have had rapid heartbeat like that and I cant really say if it was really my heart beating or not. It didnt hurt me though, you just have to relax and soon you will enter a dream no problem (usually things like fast heartbeat dont happen twice in a row)